Archives West Finding Aid

Efforts at Oregon State University to improve hop production scientifically started in the 1890s, but were largely abandoned with the beginning of Prohibition. Following repeal of Prohibition, the hop industry quickly recovered, only to be threatened again by the invasion of downy mildew. At that time, most American hops were the Clusters variety, which was extremely susceptible to the downy mildew pathogen. Further, most American hops were grown in Oregon's Willamette Valley, a high-rainfall area ideally suited to downy mildew infections.

U.S. government support for hop research started at Oregon State University in 1930, a time when the majority of American hops were grown in Oregon. Initial research efforts focused on breeding new varieties with a genetic resistance to downy mildew and that were suited for growing in the Pacific Northwest, as well as developing chemical control measures to combat the pest and disease problems that were plaguing the industry. In later years, work expanded to include agronomic, physiological, pathology, chemical investigations, and processing and packaging. Research also expanded to Washington and Idaho.

Over the years many Oregon State University departments and researchers have participated in the program. Departments represented in the reports in this collection include Farm Crops, Botany and Plant Pathology, Agricultural Chemistry, Weed Science, and Entomology. The Agricultural Experiment Stations of California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington are also represented in the reports. Departments from Washington State University that participated in the program for these years include the Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, the College of Agriculture, and Home Economics. Research divisions at the Agricultural Research Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture include the Tobacco and Specialty Crops Section, Crops Research Division; the Oilseed and Industrial Crops Research Branch; and the Plant Science Research Division.

Other notable related organizations include the Oregon and Washington hops commissions, Hop Growers of America, Hop Research Council, U.S. Hop Administration Committee, U.S. Brewers Association, American Society of Brewing Chemists, and Miller Brewing Company.

Hugh E. Morrison, who created and collected the reports in Series 2, was a research entomologist with the Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station from 1937 until his death in 1967. Morrison's research focused on hop pests; life, habits, and control of symphylans; injurious soil arthropods; and development of soil insecticides for control of pests affecting crops such as potatoes, corn, carrots, and mint.

Since the program began there have been many people who participated in the research. Oregon State University researchers involved in the work included in this collection include Stanley Brooks (Research Agronomist), Chester Horner (Agent Plant Pathologist), Sam Likens (Chemist), WD Loomis, LC Terriere, U Kiigemagi, Gail Nickerson (Agricultural Chemistry), JF Anderson, Charles Zimmerman, AP Appleby (Weed Science), RE Berry (Entomology), Ulrich Gampert (Research Assistant), Peggy Whitney (Research Assistant), Donna Kling (Research Assistant). Researchers from Washington State University include CE Nelson, WW Cone, RE Klein, RG Evans, R Parker, RG Stevens, and Steve Kenny. Researchers for the USDA include Alfred Haunold (Genetics USDA-ARS), Richard Hampton (Pathology USDA-ARS), and RH Converse (USDA-SEA Virology).